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How to Help Protect Yourself From Low-Level Radiation

Submitted by George Washington on 04/29/2011 21:07 -0400

As everyone knows, exposure to high levels of radiation can quickly sicken or kill us. Here's an illustration from Columbia University:

But as I've previously noted, even low level radiation can cause big problems. Columbia provides an illustration:

Radiation can sicken or kill us by directly damaging cells:

Or indirectly ... by producing free radicals:

Indeed, some radiation experts argue that the creation of a lot of free radical creation is the most dangerous mechanism of low level ionizing radiation:

During exposure to low-level doses (LLD) of ionizing radiation (IR), the
most of harmful effects are produced indirectly, through radiolysis of
water and formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The
antioxidant enzymes - superoxide dismutase (SOD): manganese SOD (MnSOD)
and copper-zinc SOD (CuZnSOD), as well as glutathione (GSH), are the
most important intracellular antioxidants in the metabolism of ROS.
Overproduction of ROS challenges antioxidant enzymes.

Scientists from the Institute of Nuclear Science claim in the Archive of oncology:

Chronic exposure to low-dose radiation doses could be much more harmful than high, short-term doses because of lipid peroxidation initiated by free radicals.

***

Peroxidation of cell membranes increases with decreasing dose rate (Petkau effect).

(See this for more on the Petkau effect.)

Countering
free radicals is therefore one of the most important ways we can help
protect ourselves from the effects of low-level radiation from Japan,
from Chernobyl and elsewhere.

Now that you know, I invite you to read the following articles to learn how to help counter free radicals:

Can Vitamins or Herbs Help Protect Us from Radiation?

What Foods Are Highest in Antioxidants? Some Inexpensive Foods Are Higher In Antioxidants than the Newest Pricey "Superfoods"

The Compounds Plants Use to Protect Themselves from Damage Also Help to Protect People From Damage

Electrons as Antioxidants: A Key to Health

Note: The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists reported
that one of the best-known scientists of the 20th century - Dr. John
Gofman - also believed that chronic low level radiation is more
dangerous than acute exposure to high doses. Gofman was a doctor
of nuclear and physical chemistry and a medical doctor who worked on
the Manhattan Project, co-discovered uranium-232 and -233 and other
radioactive isotopes and proved their fissionability, helped discover
how to extract plutonium, led the team that discovered and
characterized lipoproteins in the causation of heart disease, served as
a Professor Emeritus of Molecular and Cell Biology at the University
of California Berkeley, served as Associate Director of the Livermore
National Laboratory, was asked
by the Atomic Energy Commission to undertake a series of long range
studies on potential dangers that might arise from the "peaceful uses
of the atom", and wrote four scholarly books on radiation health effects.

But
whether or not chronic, low doses of radiation cause more or less
damage than acute, higher doses is beyond the scope of this article.
The point is that they both can cause damage.

Disclaimer: I am not a health care professional.

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Sun, 05/01/2011 - 18:00 | 1224664 malek

Well GW, it is really unfortunate that free radicals "reactive oxygen species (ROS)" damage our cells, which in effect shows the toxicity of oxygen (and other elements). But you cannot stop breathing as a countermeasure...

Now showing that low-level doses of ionizing radiation increase the number of radicals is worthless unless you compare it to the amount of such radicals occurring in normal circumstances.

Sat, 04/30/2011 - 17:52 | 1224506 Pablo Escobar

I offer no comment, because, quite frankly, there isn't enough research in the literature to conclusively comment on humans and methods of reducing damage due to radioactive particle uptake.......

Personally, I believe the 1 -14 age group chohort has gone from an average life expectancy of 74 years, to 45 years.

I am very happy, on the other hand, to announce the good news to this epic fuckushima problem, and that is that in 20 human generations or so, humans should have evolved a pretty good mechanism of dealing with hard radiation, such that mining the asteroid belts should be a not so bad afrom a genetic safety point of view.

Sat, 04/30/2011 - 17:41 | 1224489 SuperRay

I'm going to take all that shit, no doubt, because I want to survive long enough to witness the misery of mutated, cancer-encrusted troglodytes limping and waddling through a desiccated landscapes of empty strip malls and weed-filled dusty roads, before they're gunned down by mercenaries protecting Jamie Diamond's electric-fencified property....

bring on the kelp, vitamin C, SOD, glutathione, and all that other stuff. I'm gonna swallow it, stick in an IV and maybe shove it up my ass, just to make sure every possible area of my body is saturated with antioxidants! (maybe i'll stick an american eagle up there too, i hear silver has health enhancing qualities as well)...

Sat, 04/30/2011 - 14:12 | 1224221 Pool Shark

"How to Help Protect Yourself From Low-Level Radiation"

1) Stay away from Japan

2) ???

3) Profit!!!

Sat, 04/30/2011 - 13:38 | 1224152 treemagnet

Remember this article.

Sat, 04/30/2011 - 11:54 | 1224004 Gold 36000

I think it is reasonable to avoid fresh milk products for now unless you can get them from the southern hemisphere. This is where the radiation is concentrating now. I now only drink spring water from deep underground aquiphers. Fortunately my kids only like the aged cheeses. I have stocked up a two year supply of aged cheeses that were produced before the radiation release. I have also stocked up on powdered milk. It is probably too late now for that due to just in time manufacturing techniques.

Sat, 04/30/2011 - 11:12 | 1223916 sundown333

Oh and BTW...Living tissue and radiation are not friends. Once again, common sense.

Sat, 04/30/2011 - 11:04 | 1223897 sundown333

Seems to me that common sense would be the primary defense. Keep yourself healthy. Eat well, get rest and take a quality multi-vitamin supplement ( whole food based ). Also a good quality whey product that contains "cysteine" so the body can produce enough glutathione. Keep the stress levels down. Use EFT to deal with stressful emotional issues. Sure beats panic over things beyond our control.

Sat, 04/30/2011 - 11:01 | 1223889 lamont cranston

If you are going to ingest bentonite, follow the dosage instructions to the letter. It will adsorb 15X its volume in water and is extremely slick when wet. All wells have it as a seal just above the aquifer zone.

Sat, 04/30/2011 - 10:47 | 1223849 Pablo Escobar

Zero Hedgers.....

I come here for great social commentary with an economics twist. The financial analysis and implications thereof are firstrate.

I beg you, please stay away from commenting and espousing that which you do not know.

Disclaimer: I am a former molecular biologist, as even the vast majority of medical proffesionals do not understand subcellular level mechanics.

Sat, 04/30/2011 - 20:17 | 1224643 HedgeCock

Ya, so, enlighten us and cough something up.

Sat, 04/30/2011 - 12:35 | 1224065 Seer

"The problems we face will not be solved by the minds that created them."

- Albert Einstein

Call me a skeptic, but over the course of my life I've seen MANY cases of reversals to expert and popular beliefs. Further, "keepers of knowledge" are people that I caution others to shy away from...

Yes, we can never really know, but then again neither can you. And given that you spout off some sort of superior knowledge but do not provide any evidence of it, well... it's the stuff of trolls.

Sat, 04/30/2011 - 11:57 | 1224012 Gold 36000

then why don't you offer an article? Please explain to me how any level of radiation can be safe, since it is all probability based. Are you just picking a threshold out of your ass?

Sun, 05/01/2011 - 01:27 | 1225011 Pablo Escobar

I offer no comment, because, quite frankly, there isn't enough research in the literature to conclusively comment on humans and methods of reducing damage due to radioactive particle uptake.......

Personally, I believe the 1 -14 age group chohort has gone from an average life expectancy of 74 years, to 45 years.

Wed, 05/04/2011 - 19:52 | 1241207 HedgeCock

++++1

Sat, 04/30/2011 - 10:20 | 1223775 Winston Smith 2009

Realistically, in _many_ areas of the US (and perhaps the world), RADON GAS should be your primary concern about radioactive anything. Radon gas is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the US:

http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/citguide.html

http://www.radon.com/maps/

http://energy.cr.usgs.gov/radon/usrnpot.gif

Sat, 04/30/2011 - 08:54 | 1223641 Dan The Man

Calling Bullshyte !

"...some radiation experts argue...

Dr. John Gofman - also believed..."

Everyone agrees too much will kill you...but NOBODY has done any tests...publicly. How do they know?

low level radiation may even be beneficial. why did the Nagasaki survivors OUTLIVE their Japanese non-radiated countrymen? hmmm...

Sat, 04/30/2011 - 08:03 | 1223578 Isotope

I think that there are problems with the Linear No-Threshold Model.

See "radiation hormesis."

There is seperate evidence that, in general, some degree of oxidative stress from free radical oxygen species is beneficial, and indeed necessary, for normal cellular function.

Disclaimer: I am a health care professional.

Sat, 04/30/2011 - 09:49 | 1223715 Stuck on Zero

Summaries of hundreds of different radiation exposure papers has shown that low levels of radiation actually prevent cancer. This "hormesis" effect is generaly believed to arise because a low level of radiation forces the body to constantly produce phagocytes that in the course of cleaning up radiation damage also take out cancersous and pre-cancerous cells. For example, despite studies of up to 100,000 households the government could never correlate Radon with cancers. Every study showed the opposite effect i.e. more Radon gas produced fewer cancers. Again at low levels. Humans evolved with radiation.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiation_hormesis

Sat, 04/30/2011 - 12:27 | 1224052 TaxSlave

Every study showed the opposite effect i.e. more Radon gas produced fewer cancers.

Except if you smoke. Then the risk goes up dramatically compared to the risk from either factor alone.

Sat, 04/30/2011 - 07:53 | 1223567 Landrew

I created this for the people of Japan. Using a less expensive digital camera, with a minimum 15 exposure time you can see gamma ray with 1.46 mev of energy. I will have something for educational sale soon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6Q7VfWdgEg

Sat, 04/30/2011 - 12:44 | 1224078 Dejean Splicer

Nice work. You are the master.

A little advice. Keep that 100 banana equivalent dose away from 'Swing Force'. She'd go ape for that.

Sat, 04/30/2011 - 05:28 | 1223502 Drag Racer

Fairewinds update to reactor #3 explosion

http://www.fairewinds.com/content/gundersen-postulates-unit-3-explosion-...

Sat, 04/30/2011 - 04:58 | 1223490 Drag Racer

A senior nuclear adviser to Naoto Kan, the Japanese prime minister, has submitted his resignation, alleging the government had ignored his advice on radiation limits and failed to follow the law.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific/2011/04/20114306132878695...

Sat, 04/30/2011 - 04:33 | 1223484 nah

radiation = unknown flesh disease... and then some

watch some videos of nuclear testing... soft tissue is a nuclear nightmare... may god save tokyo

Sat, 04/30/2011 - 03:51 | 1223458 TerraHertz

Also, regarding prevention and treatment of cancer, check out Vitamin B17.

Some links here: http://everist.org/archives/links/!_B17_Laetrile_links.txt

Sat, 04/30/2011 - 07:56 | 1223568 tamboo

good quality baking soda like bob's red mill does the trick,

available at most health food stores.

http://oc3.altar.co/cancer/

Sat, 04/30/2011 - 03:13 | 1223419 IMACOINNUT

the best antioxidant is alkaline water. drink a gallon of 9.5 pH water a day and it provides an environment cancer cells cannot survive.

Sat, 04/30/2011 - 03:39 | 1223442 OldPhart

I drink more than that as water steeped in barley, hops, and other grains. I'm pretty sure the pH works there one way or the other...if not, at least I get drunk before I die.

Sat, 04/30/2011 - 02:32 | 1223384 nothing can go wrogn

Another good article:

Radiation Toxicity Antidotes

http://doctorapsley.com/RadiationTherapy.aspx

Sat, 04/30/2011 - 03:55 | 1223461 jomama

that's a serious read. thanks!

Sat, 04/30/2011 - 03:15 | 1223421 andia

Sat, 04/30/2011 - 01:35 | 1223342 no2foreclosures

There is something called Zeolite that is a natural honeycomb compound found in certain volcanoes and it is probably one of the best way to get rid of these bad free radicals. In fact, during Chernobyl, they supposedly used this on an industrial scale.

Unfortunately, the best Zeolite product, many out there and some are not "clean," is something called NCD or Natural Cellular Defense marketed by a multi-level marketing company called Waiora. It's expensive. About $40 to $50 per 15 mL (eyedropper size bottle). But it works amazingly effective in removing all sorts of bad stuff in the human body, including heavy metals.

Sat, 04/30/2011 - 07:50 | 1223566 tamboo

look up zeomax or zeolite ammonia reducer on amazon,

relativley cheap. also bentonite clay on ebay is fairly inexpensive.

http://theintelhub.com/2011/04/20/medical-gestapo-working-in-japan/

http://gordonresearch.com/articles_zeolite/

http://www.naturalnews.com/032119_radiation_bentonite_clay.html

Sat, 04/30/2011 - 01:35 | 1223339 Jovil